Circuit-breaker.



R. C. LANPHIBR.

ClRCUIT BRBAKER.

APPLIOATION FILED 111111.22, 1911.

1,052,595. Patented Feb. 1L 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Feb. V11, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1I. lg

R. G. LANPHIER.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAIMQz, 1911..

iUNITED STATES PATENT -orrron' ROBERT C. LANPI-IIER, OF SPRINGFIELD,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SANG-AMO ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 11, 1913.

i Application mea March 22, 1911. serial No. e1e,2o4.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. IniNPHrER,l

a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the countyof Sangamon, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Circuit-Breakers, of which the following is a'specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to circuit breakers for electric circuits ofeither the shunt trip coil type, the overload type, or combinations ofboth, and it has for its object to improve the construction andoperation of devices of this sort. The means by which I haveaccomplished this object are illustrated in the drawings and hereinafterspecifically described.

That which I believe to new is set forth in the claims. I

In the drawings z-Figure 1 is a central v'erti'cal section through acircuit breaker of a. shunt trip coil type, with the parts in positionfor the passage ofl a current. Fig. 2 is asimilar view with the parts inposition to prevent the passage of a current. Fig. 3 is a section online 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top or plan view, partly in section.Fig. 5l is Aa diagrammatic view, showing the connections of the type ofcircuit breaker shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 6 is adiagrainmatic view,showing the connections of an overload type of circuit breaker.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, in which correspondingparts are indicated by like reference characters-10 indicates a shell ofnon-magnetic metal, and 11 a shell of. steel or iron, about which shellsis wound a coil 12, the whole being incased in a shell 13 of steel oriron.

14-15 indica-te steel or iron heads suitably joining the ends of theshell 13 with theouter ends of the shells 1011, respectively. I

16 indicates an iron or steel sleeve screwthreaded into the lower end ofthe shell 10, provided on its lower end with a graduated scale 17.

18 indicates a pointer secured to the head 14 and suitably positionedrelative to the scale 17. l

19 indicates a set-screw threaded into a lug 20 and bearing at its innerend upon the sleeve 16 whereby it is capable of clamping the sleeve 16in any adjusted position, as will be'readily understood.

21 indicates a Contact connected with one end of the coil 12, and 22indicates a binding screw connected lwith the other end of said coil.

23 indicates an iron or steel sleeve slidably mounted inside of theshells 10--11 above the sleeve 16.

24 indicates brackets mounted diametrically opposite each other in theshell 10 and ext-ending through slots 25 in the sleeve 23.

26 indicates a. cam ring on the inner surface of the sleeve 23.

27 indicates pins extending from the inner surface of the sleeve 23 atits lower end.

28 indicates levers pivoted on the inner ends of the brackets 24, eachlever bearing at its upper end a roller 29 and at its lower end a roller30.

It will be seen that the coil'12 is entirely iron'clad except for theair-gap between the slidable sleeve 23 and the adjustable sleeve 16. Itwill therefore be understood that when a current is passed through thecoil 12 there will be a strong attraction between the sleeves 16 and23,. the force of that attraction depending upon the size of the airgap,this being regulated by adjusting thesleeve 16 up or down so that thepointer will stand at one or another point alongr the scale 1.7. Thisscale is graduated to indicate the strength of current necessary throughthe coil 12 to pull down the sleeve 23 for different positions of thesleeve 16.

31 indicates a rod slidably mounted in the lower end of the sleeve 16.

32 indicates a coiled spring bearing at its lower end on the sleeve 16and at its upper end on a washer 33 carried b the rod 31, the springthus tending yieldingly to support said rod 31 in its uppermost positionwith the washer 33 in contact with the pins 50 site sides of the plu 41,adapted away from the rod .31, and therefore tend-` 10 rollers 30. rideup the cam 26 against the force of the spring 35,releasingthe rollers 29from the shoulder 34and permitting the spring 32 to force upwardthe rod31. This movement quickly brings the washer 33 into contact with thepins 27, stopping the downward movement of the sleeve 23 and forcingsaid sleeve to its uppermost position again with the rollers in contactwith the lower surface of the cam 26 as in Fig. 1, but with the rollers29 in contact with the rod 31 below theshoulder 34 instead of above itas they were'before' the sleeve 23 was forced downward. g

Comingnowtothe circuit making and breaking devices proper,l (see Figs. 1and2) 36-37 indicate two oppositely -located plates provided withbinding posts 38-39, respectively. i -Said plates 36-37 are bored 30 outconcentrically, as shown in said. figures,` providing between .theml aflaring' open'- 1ng40.

41 indicates a conical-shaped lug mounted on the rod 31 in position toclose the gap u between 'the plates 36-37 when the r'od 31 is in itsloweredposition. The plug 41 is formed of metal, preferably of aplurality of thin sheets of metal provided with radial slots 42extending in from the periphery of o the plug. By reason of thisconstruction, the plug is capable of being pressed firmly v,intoposit-ion in the opening to make a` *good electrical connection betweenthe plug' and the plates. 36-37, the thin sheets of 5 metal .beingadapted to give at one point while still 'making a good. contact atanother A point.

43-44 indicate contact brushes formed of high-resistance metal,extending from op onormalily to extend. downw'ar to make contactvwithsmall plates 4546` before `the plug 41 reaches its seat in the opening40, and adapted when the rod 31 is forced upward to continue anelectrical connection between the plates 36-37 after the plug 41 hasleft its seat. The plates 45-46 are to be formed of high-resistancematerial.

47 indicates an arm extending from the @o rod 31, provided on its outerend with a con tact 48 adapted to engage the contact 21 when the rod 31is lowered.

49 indicates a wire connecting the contact 48 with the plug 41.

In Fig. 5, the circuit breaker as just de,4

.ing

scribedv is shown connected. up in a circuit connecting :a enerator 50and a storage battery 51 by y ead wires 52-53. The coil 12 isshownfconnected up across the main circuit by a wire 54 in parallel withthe stor. age battery 51, said secondary or shunt cir# cuit 54 includinpriate pattern. be ermanently-connected up in the circuit witli thestorage battery and the circult breaker for the purpose of measuring thecurrentboth on charge and discharge of the battery, the indicating hand56 being adapta meter 55 of any approy hismeter'is preferably to ed toadvance more rapidly in proportion to the current passing through themeter o n discharge than it does on charge to compensate for the energylost by the battery. The construction of the meter to meet thisrequirement is not shown, since it is we'llknown in the art, nor are thewires for carter s own in connection therewith, the circuit-54' beingonly for the pur ose of breakthe circuit as hereina ter described whenthe storage battery is fully charged or when it reaches substantially adischarged condition, at either of which times the circuit 54 is.adapted to be completed by the hand 56, as will be readily: understood..

With the generator 50. charging the storage battery 51 as shown in Fig.5, with the circuit 54 through the. meter 55 lincomplete but with thecontacts 48 and 21 in engagement, the hand 56 will continue to advanceuntil the battery is fully charged. At that moment, the circuit 54 willbe closed and a current will pass through the coil 12, causing thesleeve 23 to be immediately attracted and pulled downward by the sleeve16. As L before described, this serves to release the rod 31, which` isforced upward by the `spring 32, thus breaking the circuit throughthe-coil 12, as well as disconnecting the storagebattery from thegenerator. attractionbetween the sleeves 23 and 16 is Since' the thustaken away at the beginning of the upward movement of the rod 31 andbefore the washer 33 comes into contact with the pins 27, the spring 32is, able to force the rod 31 to its uppermost position, carrying with itthe sleeve 23, the movement ending with the parts in the positions shownin Fig.

2Q The brushes 43-44 of high resistancel metal servel to take up thebreak of the current when the plug 41 leaves its seat.

When the battery is connected up to discharge, therod 31 may be pusheddownward. the rollers 29 riding up the shoulder 34. This of course turnsthe levers 28 but does not turn them suiciently to permit. the cam ring26 to pass the rollers 30, so that when the rod 31 has reached itslowermost position with the plug 41 again closing the gap between theplat-es 36-37 the parts will have resumed the positions shown in Fig. 1,

85 ryin the current to be measured bythe menuisance-v 'wah the Tners 29vabove the `standar ai land with the rollers 30 below the cam ring 26.When thereafter the indicatinghand 56 again completes t e circuit 54,either when the battery; is substantially completely discharged or atany other predetermined point inthe discharge of the batterythe circuitbreaker acts exactly as has been described in connectiony with thecharging of the battery, coming to rest with the parts in the positionsshown in Fig.'2.

In Fig. 6 is shown a slight modificationfied form, the arm 4:7 and.contact l,21.arev

omitted, the plate 37 being connected directly with one end of thecoil12, the other end ofwhich is connected with the feed wire 52. In themodified construction as shown in Fig. 6, the sleeve 16 is of coursefirst adjusted to regulate the air-gap between the sleeves 16 and 23.This adjustment of the sleeve 16 regulates the strength of theattraction between thev sleeves 16 and 23 for any given current flowingthrough the coil 12. The sleeve 16 is adjusted down or up according asit is desired that a large or a small current shall be necessary forovercoming the force of the spring 35, the adjustment necessary beingindicated by the scale 17. When the sleeve 16 is properly set,it isclamped in position by means of the set-screwl 19. Whenever thereafterthe current reaches or exceeds the predetermined `maximum strengthdesired and becomes suiicient to overcome the spring 35 by means.4 ofthe attraction between the sleeves 16 and 23, the-sleeve 23 is pulleddown, releasing the rod 31 as before described, and leaving the partsagain in the positions shownv in Fig. 2. By thismeans any excessiveoverload of current is prevented from iowing through the work longenough to cause damage and the possible short-circuiting of delicatemachinery is prevented. When after the cessation of the overload currentthe rod 81 is again pushed down to its lowered position, the circuit isagain completed ready for the starting of the machinery beyond thecircuit breaker.

If the rod 31 is pulled down before the overload current has ceased andthe circuit is then completed beyond the circuit breaker, the resultwill be, of course, the immediate breaking of the circuit again by theaction of the sleeve 23 as just described.

While I have shown the plug 41 as being electrically unconnected witheach of the plates 36-37, I do not wish to restrict myself to thatconstruction, except as hereinafter specifically claimed, since anycon'- `of restoring said cam to struction may be employed by reason ofwhich the rising of the plug causes a break in the circuit. I

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent is,--

1. In a circuit-breaker, the combination of acoil, a core slidablymounted in said coil and adapted to be moved thereinby the passage ofan'electric current through said coil, a switch, a spring tending -toopen said switch, and a latch mounted adjacent to said slidable coreadapted to. hold said switch against opening, .said core being providedwith a cam adapted to engage and release vsaid latch upon a fullmovement of lsaid .2. lIn a Acircuit-breaker, the combination of a coil,va core slidably mounted in said coiland vadapted `to beinoved thereinby the passage'o `an electric current through said ceil,1a switch, aspring tending to open said switch, and a latchmounted adjacent to saidslidable core adapted to hold said. switch against opening, 'said-corebeing provided With .acam adapted to engage and release said latch lupona full movement of said core whereby said spring is permitted to opensaid switch, 'the opening of the switch by said spring also having theeect o `rative en gement withsaid latch.M

3. In a vcircuit-breaker, the combination of a coil, a soft-iron sleeveslidably mounted in said coil and adapted to be moved therein by the.passage Vof an electric current through said coil, a switch, a springtending to open said switch, and a latch adapted to hold said switchagainst opening,` said sleeve being provided with a cam on its innersurface adapted to engage and release said latch upon 'a full movementof said slidable sleeve.`

4. In a circuit breaker, the combination of a coil, a spring-seated rodextending into said coil, a block secured on said rod by thelf'oymovement of lwhich an electric circuit is broken, ashoulder on saidrod, a lever engaging said shoulder and preventing `the rising of saidrod and block, and a core slidably mounted in said coil and adapted tobe moved therein by the passage of an electric current through saidcoil, said core being provided with a cam which opertively engages saidlever whereby upon the movement of said core said lever is disengagedfrom said shoulder.

5. In a circuit breaker, the combination of a coil, a spring-seated rodextending into said coil, a block secured on said rod by the movement ofwhich an electric circuit is broken, a shoulder on said rod, a leverengaging said shoulder and preventing the rising of said rod and block,a core slidably mounted in said coil and adapted to be moved therein bythe passage of an electric current 6. In a circuit breaker, the.combination of a coil, a spring-seated rod extending into said. coil, abloc secured on said rod by the movement of which an electric circuit isbroken, a shoulder on said rod, a lever engaging said shoulder andpreventing the rising of said rod and block, a core slidably mounted insaid coil and adapted to be moved therein by the passage of an electriccurrent through said coil, said 'core being provided with a cam whichoperatively engages said lever whereby upon the movement of said/coresaid lever is disengaged from said shoulder permitting said rod andblock to rise, means actuated by said spring as said rod rises to returnsaid core into operative engagement withl said lever, and a springadapted to hold said lever yieldingly in operative osition, whereby uponthe pushing down o said rod said lever is adapted to again engage saidshoulder and hold said rod a ainst rising.

7 n a circuit breaker, the combination of a coil, a rod extending intosaid coil, a block "secured on said rod by the upward movement of whichan electric circuit is broken, a shoulder on said rod, a pair of leverspivotally mounted on opposite sides of saidrod in said` coil, andadapted to engage said shoulder to prevent the upward movement of saidrod and block, a magnetic sleeve slidably mounted in said coil andadapted to be moved downward by the passage of an electric currentthrough said coil, a cam ring on the inside of said sleeve operativelyengaging saidl levers whereby upon the downward movement of said coresaid levers are disengaged from said shoulder, a spring adapted to raisesaid rod when released by in said coil-with its upper end in contactwith said first-named sleeve and with its lower end in contact with saidsecond-named sleeve, a core' in the lower end of said second-namedsleeve, a spring-seated block by the movement of which an electriccircuit is broken, and a lever pivotally mounted in said coil adaptedt-o hold said spring-seated block against movement, said thirdv sleevebeing provided with a cam adapted to engage said lever to release itfrom said spring-seated block u on the movement of said sleeve towardsaid core.

9. In a circuitebreaker, the combination of a coil, a sleeve of ma eticmaterial fixed in the upper end thereo a non-magnetic sleeve xed in thelower portion thereof, a third sleeve of magnetic material adapted toslide in said coil with its upper end in contact with said first-namedsleeve and with its lower end in contact with said second-named sleeve,a core in the lower end of said second-named sleeve, a rod extendinginto said coil bv the upward movement of which an electric circuit isbroken, a lever pivotally mounted in said coil, when said rod is in itslowermost position said lever extending at its upper end above andengaging a shoulder.

on said rod and extending at its lower end below and engaging a cam onthe inside of said third sleeve, and a spring adapted to force said rodupward when said lever is released from said rod by the swinging of thelever due to the downward movement of said third sleeve.

10. In a circuit-breaker, the combination of a coil, a sleeve ofmagnetic material fixed in the upper end thereof, a non-magnetic sleevefixed in the lower portion thereof, a third sleeve of magnetic materialadapted to slide in said coil with its upper end in contact with saidfirst-named sleeve and with its lower end in contact with saidsecondnamed sleeve, a core in the lower end of said second-named sleeve,a rod extending into said coil by the upward movement of which anelectric circuit is broken, a lever pivotally mounted in said coil, whensaid rod is in its lowermost position said lever extending at its upperend above and engaging a shoulder on said rod and extending at its lowerend below and engaging a cam on the insidel of said third sleeve, aspringadapted to force said rod upward when said lever is released fromsaid rod by the swinging of the'lever due to the downward movement ofsaid third sleeve, and means carried by said rod adapted to engage saidthird sleeve as said rod is moved upward by said spring and to raisesaid sleeve again into normal position with its cam above the lower endof said lever.

ROBERT o. LANPHiEiz.

Witnesses:

C. E. PioxARD, GRACE Hoornn.

